How senior living can alleviate the heartbreak of loneliness
Now that shelter in place restrictions are easing and many of us are venturing outside for the first time in weeks or months, there is a palpable sense of relief in the air — especially for those of us who care about an elderly loved one who lives alone. Even though physically distancing meant protecting your loved one from the deadly COVID-19 virus, it was undoubtedly an agonizing decision to make.
The truth is, the consequences of social isolation and loneliness can be almost as devastating as an infectious disease. As this ABC News article points out: “loneliness triggers a stress response that’s been associated with increased inflammation and a hyper activation of the immune sys- tem, which … contributes to some of the chronic diseases that older adults are already more vulnerable to developing.” In fact, an ample amount of research shows the link between chronic loneliness and a wide range of health problems, like dementia, depression, anxiety, heart disease and stroke, and substance abuse. Socially isolated people also suffer a mortality rate as high as rates linked to smoking, obesity, alcohol abuse, and physical inactivity. A recent report sponsored by the AARP Foundation recommends that health professionals screen seniors for loneliness, entering warning signs into their medical records.
A loneliness epidemic
Even before the lockdown, America was already facing an epidemic of loneliness. In January, a report from the health-insurer Cigna suggested that around 60 percent of Americans of all ages felt some degree of isolation. This may have taken an especially large toll on older adults who were cautioned to self-isolate, as they were more susceptible to serious COVID-19 infections. In fact, a survey put out by NORC at the University of Chicago found that about a third of respondents, age 70 and older felt lonelier than usual during lockdown.
Although loneliness affects all age groups, older adults who live alone may be especially vulnerable if they have lost close friends, relatives, or their life partner. Older adults are also more prone to mobility issues that limit their ability to go out, visit friends, attend groups, or even grocery shop, for that matter. Then too, some seniors develop hearing or vision loss, or dementia, all of which can interfere with meaningful social interactions.
An antidote to social isolation
So, if you’re worried about the consequences of loneliness and isolation for your elderly loved one, what’s the answer? For some, it can mean asking your loved one to move in with you. If you don’t have the space, an adult day program might be the right choice. However, if you don’t want to worry about arranging transportation to adult day care, the third alternative, senior living, might be the most effective way to counter social isolation. By entering a senior living community, such as Country Club Village Retirement Community, your loved one will be surrounded by people and can easily mix and mingle with others over meals or in common areas, allowing for spontaneous friendships to blossom.
On top of this, Country Club is wellknown for the special on-site social events it hosts, such as ice cream socials, Big Band music shows, and cookouts. The community also provides a myriad of group activities that range from outings to museums to beanbag baseball to cards and checkers games. These activities, which are included in the monthly rent, offer excellent opportunities to bond with others.
Now that the lockdown has shown just how isolating it can be to live alone, perhaps now is the time to mention the social benefits of living in a community to your loved one.
Note: Although social interaction is paramount at Country Club, so is resident safety. For the foreseeable future, all staff and group participants must socially distance and wear Personal Protective Equipment, like face masks. Additionally, Country Club is in regular contact with state and local health officials for the most up-to-date information on disinfection and other virus prevention measures.